California votes to ban toys in happy meals

I don't think Fast Food should exist at all, honestly. =/
My opinion on this whole thing.


And am I the only one who feels California should be worrying about more important things. Recently my state's government has been focusing on matters such as this, and violent video games. -.- I swear, sometimes the state government forgets how much we are in debt.

 
I swear, sometimes the state government forgets how much we are in debt.
Oh, they know for sure.
This is so typical in state/provincial governments, though.
They're just avoiding real issues by passing symbolic legislation, or stuff that won't take effect for several years, to trick voters into think they're actually doing things.
 
Wel.. that is rather odd. Every child that I know, gets the happy meal just for the toy.. they don't even touch their food...
 
Well I'm never buying happy meals again...

ER I MEAN...

Its pretty dumb imo. Toys don't do anything really... its the whole reason to buy a happy meal. It doesn't accomplish anything, its just a stupid law so that they look busy.

And @ the topic of banning fast food: If you don't like it, don't eat it, problem solved. Man I am great.
 
How about instead of this, we just show the kids a video of what happens with the cow before they turn into that little slab of processed beefy goodness. That should shock a majority of them so much that they won't ever eat those kinds of processed meats for a long while.
 
If the kid is young enough to be playing with toys it's the parent who will be buying the happy meal for them anyway, so this ban makes little sense.
 
Honestly, I feel that this is just another example of policymakers trying to rectify mistakes that fall under parental responsibility.

Parents should be the ones instilling healthier dietary habits on their children at an early age. This isn't to say that all of them will, but measures such as a "fast food tax" would produce more results, as it has shown to have in other areas where it has been implemented.

The fact of the matter is, most people who buy fast food do so because... well, they need food. Fast. The removal of toys from Happy Meals isn't going to stop a parent from buying a burger on their way to work, nor so a happy meal for their child on their way to day-care.

A fast food tax would be a more effective alternative, or even better, price ceilings for healthier foods. A lot of people say that they would eat healthier on a more regular basis if they could afford it, && it is true that healthy food is more expensive. If a government should do anything at all, it's prioritizing farm subsidation for producers of healthy food or setting a cap on the price at which certain foods could be sold is a much more efficient solution, because it's actually tackling the problem at its root.

Moreover, I see no legal precedent that allows state government to control who can && cannot sell plastic children's toys. It'll be interesting to see them trying to defend the legitimacy of this action if it's ever called into question.

What I see in this is state politicians making it look like they're doing something, but doing it in a way that they can't be blamed when the legislation proves useless

I think you've got a great opinion on this. I'm personally on the side that thinks this is a dumb idea. >-> Those little toys aren't the greatest of course but when I was a kid I honestly loved them haha. I think fast food is alright but WITH moderation and that's what my parents always taught me.

If the healthier foods were cheaper and more accessible, I would definitely be going for that instead when going to fast food joints. That little bit about them trying to make it look like they're doing something sounds exactly like that to me too lmao. Anyway I don't think this idea will make a difference at all. I mean it's just a toy, it's not like parents get it for the toy lawl. It should be on the parents to make things right.
 


Moreover, I see no legal precedent that allows state government to control who can && cannot sell plastic children's toys. It'll be interesting to see them trying to defend the legitimacy of this action if it's ever called into question.


Yeah, come to think of it, isn't that kind of inconstitutional.
 
Wow just wow. I have a four year old brother and he like Mcdonalds basically for the toy that comes in a happy meal. But just because he ask for Mcdonalds does that mean we are gonna give it to him...hell no. It seriously isn't the toys fault while children are so fat nowadays its because of the parents who don't take time to consider the choice they are making my going the extra way to please there child. There is nothing wrong with making your child happy and content but it is best to find healthier alternatives that they will more than likely not enjoy. A few fries and maybe two chicken nuggets arnt all that bad but letting the child eat all the fries, all the nuggets, drink all the SODA, and maybe an apple pie of to the side for dessert is just sheer madness. Basically, the parent should make the right decisions for there child no matter how bad they want that toy. Hell, go get him/her something from one of those convienient 25 cent machines it will have the same effect. Its cheaper in the long run and can save that poor child from developing twin chins and extra skin.
 
Well, personally speaking...when I was a kid, I was more excited about eating fast food than getting the toy...

I guess it's supposed to be like a 'reward' for choosing the healthier meanu items. I suppose I can agree with the idea, but I don't think it will work out well. The problem with that is they really don't have a lot of variety of healthier items. I think there's only apple slices instead of fries, and milk? They should introduce a variety of different healthy sides, so it appeals to more kids.

At the same time, though, isn't it the parents that's buying the child the food? It really depends on them...
 
How about instead of this, we just show the kids a video of what happens with the cow before they turn into that little slab of processed beefy goodness. That should shock a majority of them so much that they won't ever eat those kinds of processed meats for a long while.
Goodbye, Vegan.

My point of view is that this law actually has some reason to it. Kids like toys. To get toys, you have to get food. Kids feel hungry when they see the food, you know how bratty they get, so they munch it down while they play with their new toy.

That's gonna happen inevitably, one way or another in a lot of times in a kid's life. So by restricting these health requirements, they don't have to exchange much health just of a toy. Let kids be kids, seriously. They're gonna grow up someday and you're never gonna see them play on the slides again (and give you an excuse to go near games).

Of course, parental responsibility also plays a major role in the development of a child, so just this law, even though I agree with it, probably won't be enough. Parents also have to get a wake up slap and watch their children from the beginning. Getting them used to balanced diets and getting them away from popular culture from the time they are infants will help a lot.

Children are not born with common sense, they are born with a sponge that's gonna suck up whatever comes its way first. Most of the children that dislike vegetables get that idea from the stupid cartoons that idealize it, only a few actually hate it from the flavor. I'm proud of the way my parents raised me in my early childhood. Because of that, I had no problem consuming vegetables. Unfortunately, I was flawed in the sense of physical activity, and that cost me a lot of appeal later in elementary school. I try my best nowadays, and I am glad of my results.

So yeah, it's not only what the food companies have to do, but also what parents have to do. Let's face it, Fast Food has become a permanent part of diets. Getting rid of them now would be unfair and chaotic in many ways. But restrictions like these is what helps prevent, but not directly prevent, bad health habits in children.
 
I live in Santa Clara County!!!

I need to go to McDonald's and ask about this.
 
lolwut voting to ban toys in happy meals?

:O

I just think that kids get a Happy Meal JUST for the toys. thats it.
 
I ate quite a lot of happy meals as a kid and I was never fat. People just need to use common sense and take responsibility for themselves, if your kid weighs like 200 pounds then maybe it's time to lay off the cheeseburgers. Mcdonalds isn't forcing you to buy their food, and you could always get a salad and buy the toy seperately for like 50 cents.
 
I actually disagree with this. :/ I don't think it's going to stop people from buying fast food for their kids.

It's up to the PARENTS to watch what their kids are eating and to make sure they eat healthily. Having McDonald's once or twice a month? That's perfectly okay so long as it's supplemented with, you know, REAL MEALS. McDonald's and similar restaurants are not to blame here... sure, okay, they could stand to make their meals healthier (the McDonald's hamburgers are disgustingly greasy in the US... when they aren't in Canada... so I KNOW they can do better). But if they don't want to make their meals better for the populous, they should not be required to. If people want to spend their money on cheap, quick, bad food, it's their own fault. And if they can't even say no to their child requesting a Happy Meal for the toy... that's doubly their own fault.

:/ I'm sick of legislation being introduced to protect children from their own parents. I mean, I guess it must be necessary if they're going that far, but are adults really becoming that stupid and ineffective at parenting? Maybe the government should invest in teaching parents how to be parents rather than making a temporary fix by discouraging kids from prompting their parents to make bad decisions. Which honestly, is really all this is (the way I see it).

It'll stop the parents who buy their kids Happy Meals to shut them up about the toys from buying them, but it won't stop the parents who are too lazy to cook a decent meal (or spend extra on a pre-prepared decent meal) from pulling into the drive-thru to get a quick, unhealthy fix for their kids.

(Though if it does inspire McD's to cut down on the levels of sodium/calories/whatever, I suppose it can be declared fairly win-win, though it doesn't stop either underlying problem, tbh.)
 
Around age 9 I began to realize that a) Happy Meal toys are cheap plastic that wouldn't be around six months later and b) the mini hamburger, drink, and fries were not enough food to satisfy my hunger.

So basically, once these kids realize that they can get far better quality toys elsewhere, and McDonald's sells things like Quarter Pounders and Medium/Large sized drinks and fries, the law becomes pointless.

Aside from all that, the toy in the Happy Meal has been a McDonald's tradition for how long now? Coming in now, after 40-50 years and saying, "No, you can't sell toys in Happy Meals anymore" just seems stupid to me. After all, without the toy, the Happy Meal is no longer a Happy Meal. It's a small hamburger/cheeseburger/McNugget combo meal.
 
I heard this on the radio the other day, and just had to shake my head in disbelief. Of all the ways to try and combat childhood obesity...this? Seriously?

Yeah, if any action should be taken, it should be on the parents to encourage them to make better food choices for their kids. After all, the kids who'd be most likely to get those toys? Chances are they're not heading down to McDonald's by themselves in order to get these meals, someone else has to take them there!

(But nope, parents can never make wrong choices, so let's just slam the fast food places for their poor decisions, it's easier.)

Right idea...wrong execution, I think.
 
Banning toys won't really solve anything. They will still get food, and they will still eat it... they just won't be happy. I really only ever eat Taco Bell these days... and as far I'm concerned, they don't have happy meals.
 
Good. This is another step towards affecting child obesity rates. Shows those greedy corporate a-holes at McDonalds the error of their ways.
 
Wait....what? If child obesity is the problem stop stuffing your kids faces with crap, ban the food not the toys retards ._.
 
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